Sequentially operable transmitting system



Nov. 25, 1958 R. L. DOERRFELD 2,862,047

SEQUENTIALLY OPERABLE TRANSMITTING SYSTEM Filed May 2'7, 1955 INVENTOR ROBERT L. D'OERRFELD ATTORNEY United States Patent() SEQUENTIALLY OPERABLE TRANSMITTING SYSTEM Robert L. Doerrfcld, Bellwood, Ill., assignor to Teletype Corporation, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Application May 27, 1955, Serial No. 511,455

5 Claims. (Cl. 178-2) This invention relates to sequentially operable telegraph switching systems and more particularly to a system wherein a plurality of tape or similarly controlled telegraph transmitters are sequentially connected to control a single telegraph receiving printer.

In the preparation of previously prepared forms, bills, orders, invoices, or other preform blanks, it often becomes necessary to insert identical information in certain of the prepared spaces in a'number of preforms as well as inserting in other spaces information of varying context. Valuable time may be saved by automatically inserting this identical information leaving the insertion of the information of varying context to the manual intercalation by an operator.

More particularly, in ordering vast numbers of standard parts from a number of suppliers it would be very expeditious if an order form could have automatically typed thereon the suppliers name and address, a description of the standard part ordered, price and other repetitive information, leaving the insertion of such information as quantity desired, dates, etc., to a manual insertion by the operator.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a simple and economical system for automatically inserting fixed information on a preform while permitting automatic interruption to permit an operator to manually insert certain information on the preform.

Another object of the invention resides in a system having a plurality of sequentially operating transmitters for controlling a single telegraph printer together with facilities for automatically stopping a transmitter, actuating another transmitter and conditioning a third transmitter for operation.

An additional feature of the invention resides in a telegraph printer having a contactor therein which upon actuation interrupts a transmitter controlling the printer, actuates another transmitter to control the printer and conditions further circuits for operation which circuits are actuated by restoration of the contactor to its initial position. With these and other objects in view the present invention contemplates a telegraph printer having contacts therein adapted to be actuated upon receipt in the printer of characteristic sequences of signals. The printer is adapted to be controlled by the sequential operation of a group of tape control transmitting distributors. Upon the sensing of a first predetermined sequence of code combinations in the tape, the transmitting distributor generates a sequence of signals for actuating a contact to interrupt the operation of the then operating transmitting distributor and connects the next succeeding transmitter distributor to control the printer. Following operation of the printer in accordance with the predetermined sequence of signals, the contactor is restored to its initial setting to condition circuits to interrupt the operation of the second transmitting distributor and circuits for the operation of a third transmitting distributor.

5 2,862,047 Patented Nov. 25, 1958 In addition another of said contacts is adapted to be actuated upon the receipt in the printer of a second predetermined sequence of signals. Actuation of this contact interrupts the operation of the then operating transmitter distributor to permit manual insertion of information in the copy being produced in the printer. Restart means are also provided to again permit the transmitting distributor to control the printer following the manual insertion of information.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the single drawing which illustrates a printing telegraph apparatus adapted to be sequentially controlled by a plurality of transmitting distributors in accordance with the principles; of the present invention.

There is diagrammatically shown in the figure a printing telegraph apparatus 10 of the type illustrated and. described in the patent to S. Morton et al., No. 1,904,164,. dated April 18, 1933. When used in the present system the printing telegraph apparatus may be sequentially and automatically controlled by a plurality of transmiting distributors, generally represented by the referencenumerals T1, T2 and T3 or by operation of the manual keyboard associated with the printing telegraph apparatus. Each of the transmitting distributors is controlled by a tape sensing device 11 which. in turn is controlled by a tape perforated in accordance with code corn-. binations indicative of intelligence to be recorded by the printing telegraph apparatus. In addition the tape has perforated therein at preselected points sequences of code combinations which are indicative of switching functions.

Each transmitter T1 to T3 comprises a driving motor 12, however, a single motor may be connected to simultaneously control the operation of all the transmitting distributors. In order to disconnect the driving power from the transmitting distributors each motor has con nected in its driving train a clutch 13 that is selectively rendered effective through the agency of a start latch 14 to permit the transmitting distributor to revolve through one cycle for each code combination sensed in the tape. A start magnet 15 is provided to control the release of each latch 14. Each of the transmitting distributors T1 to T3 applies the successive elements of the code combinations sensed by the tape sensing devices 11 to a lead 18 which interconnects all of the transmitting distributors.

A pin 19 is pressed upwardly by a spring to ride along the under surface of the tape and as long as tape is present in the sensing device 11 the pin is held down to hold a contact 21 closed. It is contemplated that the tape will be previously prepared or it may be continuously prepared by operation of a keyboard perforator or a reperforator. When the tape is prepared by keyboard perforator or a reperforator than a taut tape device is provided to control a contact 22. The start magnet 15 associated with each transmitting distributor may be deenergized by opening a manually operable switch 23 or the contacts 21 and 22.

When it is desired to sequentially control theprinting telegraph apparatus 10 by the sequential operation of the transmitters T1, T2 and T3, tape is inserted in all of the tape sensing devices 11. Closure of a manual contact 26 applies positive battery over a lead 27 through a normally closed contact 23 associated with a de-energized relay 29, over a lead 31, through the manual contact 23, through the taut tape contact 22, through the tape out contact 21, through the windings of the start magnet 15, over a lead 32, through a normally closed contact 33 associated with a relay 34, over a lead 36 to negative battery. The transmitting distributor Tl will generate signals in accordance with the code combinations in the tape and these signals will be applied over the lead 18 to accordingly energize and de-energize a pair of selector magnets 37 in the printing telegraph apparatus 10.

Upon the sensingof a switching sequence of code combinations in the tape, signals are transmitted to the selector magnet 37 which causes the printing telegraph apparatus to select a function bar 38. The function bar and the mechanism for controlling its actuation is illustrated specifically in Fig. 27 of the afore-identified patent to S. Morton et a1. Selection of the function bar moves a contactor 39 into engagement with a fixed contact element 41 to complete a circuit which may be traced from positive battery, over a lead 40, through the contactor 39, through the fixed contact 41, over the lead 42, through a normally closed contact 43, associated with relay 44, over a lead 46, through the relay 29, over a lead 47, over the lead 36 to negative battery. Energization of the relay 29 draws up the contact 28 to disrupt the previously traced energizing circuit for the start magnet 15 associated with the transmitting distributor T1, therefore positioning the latch 14 to disengage the clutch 13.

When contact 28 moves towards the relay 29, it completes a circuit for operating transmitting distributor T2 which may be traced from positive battery over the lead 27, through the now drawn up contact 28, over a lead 48, through a stop contact device 49, over a lead 51, through a contact 52 associated with a de-energized relay 53, over a lead 54, through the contacts 23, 22 and 21 associated with the transmitter T2, through the stop magnet 15 associated with the transmitting distributor T2, over the lead 32, through the contact 33, over the lead 36 to negative battery. Stop contact device 49 is controlled by a cam 55 on the drive shaft of the transmittingdistributor T1. A contour is selected for the cam 55 which enables the contact device 49 to be closed only when the transmitting distributor T1 has its brush on the stop segment of its commutator, thereby permitting the telegraph apparatus to fully record the last signal sensed in the tape before the transmitting distributor T1 is disconnected. This feature also precludes the transmitter distributor T2 from operation until such time as the transmitting distributor T1 has come to rest, consequently, simultaneous impartation of two signals on the transmission line 18 is precluded.

Relay 29 is locked up through a circuit which may be traced from positive battery, over lead 27, through a now drawn up contact 56, through the relay 29, over the lead 47, and over the lead 36 to negative battery. Energization of relay 29 also effectuates the drawing up of a contact 57 to condition a circuit for the operation of the relay 44 which may be traced from a contact 58 (now open with respect to contact 39) over a lead 59, through the contact 57, through a make before break contact 61, through the relay 44, over a lead 62, over the lead 36, to negative battery. Upon response of the printing telegraph apparatus 10 to the complete reception of the code combinations indicative of the switching operations, the contactor 39 is returned to its initial position to complete the conditioned energizing circuit for the relay 44.

Relay 44 is locked in an energized condition by a circuit which may be traced from positive battery, over the lead 27, through the now drawn up contact 28, over the lead 48, through the contact device 49, over the lead 51, over a lead 63, through the make before break contact 61, through the relay 44, over the lead 62, over the lead 36 to negative battery. Energization of the relay 44 draws up a contact 43 to condition a circuit for the encrgization of the relay 53. This conditioned circuit runs from the now open stationary contact 41, over the lead 42, through the now drawn up contact 43, over a lead 64, through a make before break contact 66, through the relay 53, over the lead 47 and over the lead 36 to negative battery.

The drawing up of the contact 43 also completes a conditioning circuit running to a contact 67 associated with a relay 68. The purpose of relay 68 is to provide a means for completing a circuit to a relay 69 which in turn is adapted to function to disrupt the operation of the transmitting distributor T3.

However, returning now to a consideration of the operation of transmitting distributor T2, this transmitting distributor will impress signals on the transmission line 18 which are indicative of the code combinations perforated in the tape and will function until such time as a switching sequence of code combinations is again sensed in the tape which sequence is identical to the switching sequence of code combination ascertained by the sensing device associated with transmitting distributor T 1. When the printing telegraph apparatus 10 receives the signals indicative of the switching function, the contactor 39 is again moved into engagement with the fixed contact 41 to complete the conditioned energizing circuit for the relay 53. This energizing circuit may be traced from positive battery over the lead 27, through the contactor 39 and the fixed contact 41, over lead 42, through the now drawn up contact 43, over the lead 64, through the make before break contacts 66, through the relay 53, over the lead 47 and over the lead 36 to negative battery. Energization of the relay 53 draws up the contact 52 which it will be recalled is included in the energizing circuit for the start magnet 15 associated with the transmitting distributor T2. Drawing up of the contact 52 obviously interrupts the energization of the start magnet 15 and as a result the transmitting distributor T2 will come to rest. Relay 53 will be locked in an energized condition by a circuit which may be traced from positive battery over the lead 27, through the now drawn up contact 28, over the lead 48, through the stop magnet device 49, over the lead 51, through the now drawn up make before break contact 66, through the relay 53, over the lead 47 and over the lead 36 to negative battery.

Energization of relay 53 is also accompanied by the drawing up of a contact 71 to condition an energizing circuit for the relay 68. This conditioned energizing circuit may be traced from fixed contact 58 (which is associated with the contactor 39 now engaging the fixed contact 41) over the lead 59, through the now drawn up contact 57, over a lead 72, through the now drawn up contact 71, through a make before break contact 73, through the relay 68, over the lead 62 and over the lead 36 to negative battery. When the printing telegraph apparatus completes its functional operation in response to the receipt of the switching signals, the contactor 39 will be moved back into engagement with the fixed contact 58, thus, completing; the conditioned energizing circuit for the relay 68. Energization of the relay 68 completes a conditioning circuit for the relay 69 which conditioned circuit may be traced from the fixed contact 41 (now disengaged by contactor 39), over the lead 42, through the now drawn up contact 43, through the now drawn up contact 67, over a lead 74, through a make before break contact 76, through the relay 69 and over a lead 36 to negative battery.

When the relay 53 was energized a circuit was also completed for the start magnet 15 associated with the transmitting distributor T3 which circuit may be traced from positive battery over the lead 27, through the now drawn up contact 28, over the lead 48, through the stop contact device 49, over the lead 51, through the now drawn up contact 52, over a lead 75 through a stop con tact device 77, over a lead 78, through contact 79 associated with relay 69, over a lead 81, through the contacts 23, 22 and 21, through the start magnet 15 associated with transmitter distributor T3, over the lead 32, through the contact 33 and over the lead 36 to negative battery. When the same switching code combinations are sensed in the tape by the sensing device 11 associated with the transmitting; distributor T3, then. the printing telegraph apparatus again actuates the contactor 39 to move into engagement with the fixed contact 41. Immediately thereupon the previously conditioned circuit is completed to energize the relay 69 which may be traced from positive battery over the lead 40, through the contactor 39, through the fixed contact 41, over the lead 42, through the contact 43, through the contact 67, over the lead 74, through the make before break contacts 76, through the relay 69, over the lead 36 to negative battery. Energization of the relay 69 draws up the contact 79 which as previously indicated was included in the energizing circuits for the start magnet 15. Obviously the transmitting distributor T3 will come to rest following reception of the switching signals in the printing telegraph apparatus The system may now be restored to a condition preparatory to the control of the printing telegraph apparatus by opening the manual switch 26. Inasmuch as all of the control relays 29, 44, 53, 68 and 69 depend for their energization upon the receipt of positive battery through the switch 26 the opening of this switch will restore these relays to the condition shown in the drawing.

Instances often arise in the control of the printing telegraph apparatus Wherein it is desirable to manually insert certain information before the remainder of the fixed information is transmitted to the printer 10. This desirable feature may be attained in the present system by energizing the relay 34 which opens the contact 33. Recalling that the contact 33 is contained in the energizing circuit for all of the start magnets 15, then it is apparent that the opening of this contact will function to de-energize the then energized start magnet to interrupt the functioning of the then operating transmitting distributor.

Assume for purposes of illustration that the transmitter T2 is in the process of controlling the printer 10 then as a certain predetermined sequence of code combinations is sensed in the tape, signals will be imparted to the printer which actuate the selection of function bar 81. Selection of function bar 81 is followed by the closure of a contact 82 to complete an energizing circuit which may be traced from positive battery through the now closed contact 82 through the relay 34 to negative battery. Energization of the relay 34 draws up a contact 86 to complete an obvious locking circuit which passes through a manually operable contact 87. As previously indicated energization of relay 34 is followed by an opening of contact 33 to interrupt the energizing circuit for the start magnet 15 associated with transmitting distributor T2.

Transmitter T2 may be restored to operation by merely opening the manual contact 87 whereupon the relay 34 is de-energized and the contact 33 again restores to the closed position to complete the energizing circuit for the start magnet 15 associated with the transmitting distributor T2.

In operation of this system assume that an order is to be placed on a supplier for a number of standard items of manufacture, then transmitter T1 would have a tape in which the code combinations representative of the suppliers name and address and transmitter T2 and T3 would have tapes in which are formed code combinations representative of a description of the goods to be ordered. In order to manually operate the keyboard to insert such variable information as the date and the number of items desired, code combinations are formed in the tape which function to actuate the function bar 81; and, as previously indicated actuation of function bar 81 is followed by a disruption of the operation of the then operating transmitting distributor thereby permitting the operator to manually insert the desired information in the order.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements of apparatus and circuits are simply illustrative of an application of the principles of the invention and many other modifications may be made without departing from the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a switching system for controlling the operation of a printing telegraph apparatus wherein said telegraph apparatus has included therein a contact unit adapted to be operated by the receipt of a sequence of predetermined signals, a plurality of signal generators, control circuits associatedwith each signal generator and adapted to render said signal generators effective to control said printing telegraph apparatus, means for operating a first of said control circuits to render the associated signal generator effective to control said printing telegraph apparatus, a first relay means operated by said contact unit for de-energizing the first control circuit to bring said first signal generator into an unoperated condition, arelay contact actuated by the first relay means for energizing a second control circuit to render the second signal generator effective to control the printing telegraph apparatus, a second relay circuit conditioned for operation by said first relay circuit, a contactor actuated by the restoration of said contact unit to the initial position for completing said control circuit to operate said second relay, a third relay means for de-energizing the control circuit for the second signal generator, and means operated by the second relay for conditioning a circuit from said contactor to said third relay means to disable the second signal generator.

2. In a system for controlling a telegraph recording apparatus wherein said telegraph apparatus has a contactor adapted to be initially in engagement with a first fixed contact, means within the recording apparatus responsive to a predetermined sequence of signals for moving the contactor into engagement with a second fixed contact, a plurality of storage controlled signal generators, means for connecting the first of said signal generators to control the recording apparatus, a first relay means adapted to disconnect the first signal generator and connect a second signal generator to control the recording apparatus, a control circuit including said contactor and said second fixed contact for energizing said first relay means, a second relay means adapted to disconnect the second signal generator and connect a third signal generator to control the recording apparatus, a conditioning relay means actuated by operation of the first relay means and the return of the contactor to engagement with the first contact, and a circuit including contacts operated by the conditioning relay means and the second fixed contact for operating said second relay means whereby said last mentioned circuit may be operated by the contactor being moved into engagement with said second fixed contact.

3. In a telegraph system having a recording apparatus, a first contact unit in said recording apparatus adapted to be positioned in two circuit making positions, a plurality of transmitters adapted to successively control the recording apparatus, means within the recording apparatus responsive to a first predetermined sequence of signals for actuating said contact unit from a first to a second position, a first relay means operated by said contact unit in said second position for disconnecting a transmitter and connecting the next succeeding transmitter to control the recording apparatus, circuit means conditioned for operation by thereturn of the contact unit to the first position, said conditioned circuit means adapted to disconnect said succeeding transmitting transmitter when said contact unit is actuated tothe second position, means including a second contact unit adapted to be operated into circuit making position by the receipt of a second predetermined sequence of signals for interrupting transmission from a transmitter, and means for restoring said interrupting means to render the interrupted transmitter again effective to control the recording apparatus.

4. In a telegraph system having included therein a recording apparatus, a plurality of start-stop telegraph transmitters adapted to successively control the recording 7 apparatus, means for activating one of said" transmitters, first relay means associated with. each transmitter for de-activating the associated transmitter and foractivating the next succeeding transmitter to control the recording apparatus, a contact unit adapted to be moved into two circuit making positions, means Within said recording apparatus responsive to a predetermined signal for operating said contact unit from a first into a second circuit making position to operate the first relay means associated with a transmitting transmitter, a second relay means associated with each of said transmitters for conditioning the first relay means associated with the next succeeding transmitter and conditionable for operation by its own associated first relay means, and means actuated by the contact unit being restored to the first cir- 15 2,770,304

8 cuit making position for energizing the conditioned circuit means to operate the second relay means.

5. In a system as'defin'ed in claim 4, means for precluding the operation of the succeeding transmitter until 5 the preceding transmitter has transmitted a stop impulse.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Tholstrup Nov. 13, 1956 

